Dengue worldwide overview

Situation update, February 2023

In January 2024, over half a million dengue cases and over 100 dengue-related deaths were reported globally. 

Most cases were reported in the WHO PAHO region, with a cumulative number of 550 277 suspected cases reported in the first four weeks of 2024, showing an increase of 189% compared to the same period in 2023, according to the epidemiological bulletin of 8 February 2024.

Region with most cases
The Americas
Locally acquired cases in continental Europe (2023)
Italy, France, and Spain
Receptive areas of Europe: moderate transmission likelihood
environmental conditions become less favourable to vector activity and virus replication

Three-month Dengue virus disease case notification rate per 100 000 population, November 2023 - January 2024

Three-month Dengue virus disease case notification rate per 100 000 population, November 2023 - January 2024
Geographical distribution of dengue cases reported worldwide

Detailed overview

An upsurge of cases has been reported in Brazil, where all four dengue serotypes are circulating. Vaccination efforts against dengue have started in Brazil in eligible municipalities and for children aged 10-11 years according to the Ministry of Health (Techinical Note, Ministry of Health, Brazil and Press Release, Ministry of Health, Brazil).

Increased dengue circulation has been reported in French Guyana, with over 2 000 cases reported the first four weeks of 2024 (Epidemiological Update, Guyane, 1/2/2024). Dengue is still circulating also in Guadeloupe and Martinique as well as Saint Barthelemy and Saint Martin, with hospitalisations showing a decreasing trend after increases in the previous months (Epidemiological Update in Guadeloupe, Martinique, St Martin, St Barthelemy, 8/2/2024).

Dengue circulation was also reported in the WHO South-East Asia and Western Pacific Regions in January 2024. According to the WHO SEARO bulletin of 7 February 2024, the number of cases reported from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are within the expected levels, while in January 2024 Thailand reported a 7.3% increase in the number of cases compared to December 2023 (11 180 dengue cases and five deaths).

In Africa, dengue has been reported in 2024 in four African Union Member States, according to the Africa CDC Weekly Event Based Surveillance Report, 10/2/2024.

ECDC assessment

Chikungunya virus disease and dengue affect people in most countries of the tropics and sub-tropics. EU/EEA citizens travelling to the affected areas should apply personal protective measures against mosquito bites.

The likelihood of onward transmission of dengue and chikungunya virus in mainland EU/EEA is linked to importation of the virus by viraemic travellers into receptive areas with established and active competent vectors (e.g. Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti). Aedes albopictus is established in a large part of Europe. Aedes aegypti is established notably in Cyprus, on the eastern shores of the Black Sea and in the outermost region of Madeira.

The current likelihood of the occurrence of local transmission events of chikungunya and dengue viruses in areas where the vectors are present in mainland EU/EEA is moderate, as the environmental conditions are becoming less favourable for vector activity and virus replication in vectors. In 2023, locally-acquired dengue cases been reported in France, Italy and Spain.

All autochthonous outbreaks of CHIVD and dengue in mainland EU/EEA have so far occurred between June and November.

More information is available on autochthonous transmission of chikungunya and dengue virus in the EU/EEA on ECDC's webpages, and in ECDC's factsheets on dengue and CHIKVD.

N.B: The data presented in this report originates from both official public health authorities and nonofficial sources, such as news media. Data completeness depends on the availability of reports from surveillance systems and their accuracy, which varies between countries. All data should be interpreted with caution and comparisons, particularly across countries, avoided, due to underreporting, variations in surveillance system structure, varying case definitions between countries and over time, and use of syndromic definitions.